DEAR JOAN: We have a little brown bird that has been knocking at our front and back doors for about three weeks. There are two birds. Only the bigger one keeps knocking. I open the door and it flies away. Why is this bird doing this?

Kris

Bay Area

DEAR KRIS: I’m guessing the birds in question are California towhees. These clever little birds are well-known for their rapping, although it is usually on a window. They have been known, however, to tap on doors, shutters and drain spouts, and to boldly hop in through open doors.

If your doors have shiny brass kick plates at the bottom, the bird may see his own reflection and, not recognizing himself, think it is another bird invading his territory. The same would hold true if your doors have glass in them or have very reflective paint.

If your door is just plain wood with no reflective surfaces, then I have no idea why the bird is knocking. Does it have some religious pamphlets under its wing? Perhaps it is selling alarm systems, or maybe it has aspirations of being a raven, rap, rap, rapping at your door.

The bird isn’t in any danger of harming himself, but he may be wasting a lot of energy in a fight he can’t win. If it bothers you, cover any reflective areas you have, anchor a couple of mylar balloons near the doors or hang shiny streamers. The balloons and streamers will move with the breeze and should be enough to keep the birds at bay.

DEAR JOAN: We have had hooded orioles raising a family at our feeders for years, but never in March. When I saw a male hooded oriole last week, I could not believe my eyes. They usually arrive in May.

This looked like one of the male offspring from last year, looking for his own territory. Have you had any other reports?

Mickey

San Ramon

DEAR MICKEY: Late March is the typical arrival time for hooded orioles that will stay in the Bay Area through September. Your May visitors are probably nesting elsewhere and then coming to your feeders after the babies have fledged.

DEAR JOAN: I found a walking stick insect on my fig tree earlier this month.

According to a UC integrated pest management website, it appears to be a non-native known as an Indian walking stick.

Should I report to someone that it has been sighted in the Bay Area? If yes, to whom should I report it?

Cate B.

Richmond

DEAR CATE: I sent your photo to an entomologist who says your lovely bug does appear to be an Indian walking stick.

There have been a few sightings of them in the Bay Area, but agriculture officials aren’t overly concerned because as yet, they aren’t a threat to farming.

If you want, you can report it to the Contra Costa County Department of Agriculture at 925-646-5250. I don’t know how interested they’ll be, but at least they’ll be alerted.

The Indian walking stick is an import from, as its names implies, India. They were first brought into this country as an exotic pet.

Some of them escaped or were released when the owners got bored of them, and they have been increasing their numbers in the wild.

They generally are harmless, but they can damage ornamental plants and landscapes.

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